How to Prevent Running Injuries

By Sara Butler

Spring feels as if it has sprung, which means it’s time to get back on the road to run and enjoy nature. If you’ve been biding your time all winter on the treadmill at the gym and are itching to get back out there, here are a few tips from your chiropractor to help you avoid running injuries this spring and summer.

Strength Train

If you want to avoid injury, then you need a strong body. How do you get a strong body? Through strength training! Working to improve your body’s strength through weightlifting can help your body deal more effectively with the stress running places upon it. It will also improve your gait and running consistency.

You want to build muscle in your core and legs to help you build balance, stability, and strength. Plyometrics and light weightlifting are the perfect combination to achieve this.

Stay Flexible

Stretching is very important to a runner both before and after running, but it’s also important to practice stretching on your off days. This will help you to maintain flexibility in your joints, which is really important to keeping injuries at bay.

On the days you run, you want to make sure to go through a stretching program in order to help get your body ready for the task ahead. Afterward, make sure you stretch in order to keep your muscles and joints healthy; when the muscles are warm is a great time to get a good stretch in.

On your days off, take about 20 minutes to stretch. It’ll make a big difference for you in avoiding injury.

Schedule a Rest

Overtraining can lead to big problems, so make sure you give yourself (and your body) time to rest appropriately. The amount of stress placed on your body by training every day will stifle the gains you’re making and make you more prone to injury.

See Your Chiropractor

If your body is out of alignment, then it can lead to injury as you train. Go see your chiropractor in order to help resolve any joint restrictions or dysfunctions you may be experiencing that are putting your body under even more stress as you run. Your chiropractor can also help you to avoid major problems down the road.

If you have questions about preventing running injuries, discuss them with your chiropractor the next time you're at The Joint!

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